The aggressive atheist

[Silver]

I have used a curse word maybe a couple of times on this forum and I have resorted to the basic you're just ignorant retort, but generally it is very difficult to get me ruffled. I tend to maintain a level head in debate. When I know that I cannot, I leave the discussion and take a break from posting for a short time.

[Walking Void]

This happens to me fairly often. I'm having a fairly civilised conversation with a Christian and the aggressive atheist comes along: "F*#$€ you you f*^%#'ng Christian. Your god is a jerk and you are an idiot"

At this point the Christian would either dissapear or the two of them would have a fight.

What do I do when this happens? For some reason I feel bad telling the atheist off (we are on the same team after all), but he/she just ruined some good work that I did. Any advice?

Edit: sorry, I think I posted this in the wrong forum. If someone could move it (sorry, I know you guys are busy) that would be great!

This is when You take the conversation to Skype (genitals may or may not be involved on webcam).

[ITChick]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I have to admit (after reading all my posts to try to see how much damage I did while I was drunk the other night that we all do it in varying degrees. I do it when people discuss sexism or homosexuality because these topics annoy me (not as strongly as the example I posted, but I do it to a degree) and other people do it with topics they feel strongly about.

I think the best idea is to take the conversation offline. If it is a public forum everyone is entitled to voice their opinions.

[Edwardo Piet]

What do I do when this happens? For some reason I feel bad telling the atheist off

Don't feel bad. We should have manners just as much as theists. If an atheist is an arsehole, they're an arsehole.

(we are on the same team after all)

No we're not, atheism isn't a team.

*Atheist on the street holds up a placard displaying "ATHEISTS UNITE, come to my place and we can get drunk and talk about what cunts theists are". I walk past and say "Fuck off I don't even know you and not all theists are cunts you bigoted asshole, if anything you're making them look good."*

As Daniel Dennett said: “There's nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view I hold dear.”

[NoraBrimstone]

I'm fairly proud of my aggressive atheism.

[CleanShavenJesus]

(we are on the same team after all)

No you're not. He's on the asshole team, atheist or not.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

It helps to hold people accountable to what they do, instead of giving them special treatment for their beliefs.

If someone's a jerk, they're a jerk, you don't want to be in a position where you're defending a jerk because you share the same disbelief. That's like being a catholic and defending the child molestations just because they're done by catholics, too.

[Bad Writer]

I try not to curse at the person I'm talking to, such as, "Get a fucking life you cunt!" That's just rude, especially when it's uncalled for. However, I hold no value on magical four-letter words, and will use them in order to color-in my sentences. If the theist doesn't like how I artfully weave these expletives into my speech, then they should know where to shove it. (And I'll sometimes let them know where the shoving should be done.)

[Doubting Thomas]

I think it's wrong to attack theists just for having religious beliefs. However, it's when they suggest that you need to share their beliefs just because they have these particular beliefs when they should be attacked. But it is incredibly rude to barge into someone else's conversation and castigate someone just for having religious beliefs.

[The_Flying_Skeptic]

I disagree with swearing and yelling at theists. I can understand being creative about it to the crazies that preach in front of college libraries, for fun, but I believe that an empathetic discussion has the most chance of getting someone to question their beliefs. Many theists are turned off from atheism because of how unhappy some atheists seem. We atheists should try reaching out to each other, rather than so much reaching out to theists.